Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Dragonlets (Erythrodiplax) » Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice)

Species Erythrodiplax berenice - Seaside Dragonlet

Seaside Dragonlet - Erythrodiplax berenice - female

Erythrodiplax berenice? - Erythrodiplax berenice - female

Dark dragonfly with metallic blue face - Erythrodiplax berenice - male

Salt Marsh Dragonfly - Erythrodiplax berenice

Seaside Dragonlet female? - Erythrodiplax berenice - female

Unknown Dragonfly - Erythrodiplax berenice - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Erythrodiplax (Dragonlets)

Species berenice (Seaside Dragonlet)

Explanation of Names

Erythrodiplax berenice Drury, 1773

Size

Length 3.3 cm

Identification

Dragonlet found in salt-marsh habitats. Mature male is very dark. Female has much more yellow, but also has "male-like form". Habitat is distinctive.

Range

coastal e. NA to Venezuela, inland in some areas (saline lakes) / West Indies - Map (1)

Habitat

Salt marshes, mangrove swamps and saline lakes.

Season

mostly: May to Sept., all year in Florida

Food

Feeds on other insects up to the size of lacewings, damselflies.

Life Cycle

Unique for breeding in salt water. Males perch near pools, defend a territory. Male and female oviposit together, typically in mats of algae.

closest thing we have to a marine dragonfly in North America, capable of breeding in waters with high salt concentrations. (2)

Remarks

The only dragonfly (Western Hemisphere) restricted to salt-marsh habitats.

Print References

Dunkle, p. 206,plate 37 (3)

Dunkle, pp. 98-99, figs. 88, 89 (4)

Nikula, p. 141 (5)

Internet References

OdonataCentral (2)

Giff Beaton's page which includes this species

Works Cited

1.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

2.	OdonataCentral

3.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.

4.	Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda, and the Bahamas Sidney W. Dunkle. 1989. Scientific Publishers.

5.	Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 May, 2004 - 9:31pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, Graham M
Last updated 30 August, 2019 - 7:44am

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